Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
